Former Cub Greg Maddux elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame

CHICAGO - Former Chicago Cubs pitcher Greg Maddux today was elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame. Maddux earned votes on 97.2 percent of the ballots submitted by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America, the eighth-highest percentage for election in Hall of Fame history and the third-highest for any pitcher elected. 

According to the Hall of Fame, Maddux is the 51st former Cubs player, manager or executive to earn induction. Maddux will be formally enshrined in Cooperstown on Sunday, July 27, 2014.

"I join my family, the Cubs organization and Cubs fans in congratulating Greg on this tremendous honor," said Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts. "He is one of the greatest pitchers of all time and a tremendous competitor who earned the nickname 'Mad Dog' whenever he took the mound. Greg's near-unanimous selection to Baseball's Hall of Fame is the ultimate salute to an extraordinary career."

Maddux retired from baseball in December of 2008 as the eighth winningest pitcher in the history of the game with 355 victories, 133 of which occurred during his 10 seasons with the Chicago Cubs. He won the first of his four career Cy Young Awards with the Cubs in 1992 when he went 20-11 with a 2.18 ERA in 35 starts. 

Originally selected by the Cubs in the second round of the 1984 Draft, Maddux went 133-112 with a 3.61 ERA during two stints covering 10 seasons with the Cubs from 1986-92 and 2004-06. His 298 starts with the Cubs rank fifth in franchise history while his 1,305 strikeouts rank sixth.

Maddux also earned the first two of his eight National League All-Star nods with the Cubs and won six of his major-league record 18-career Gold Glove Awards during seasons he pitched for the Cubs. He was the first pitcher in major league history to win four-consecutive Cy Young Awards (1992-95).

On May 3, 2009, the Cubs retired uniform #31 in honor of Maddux and fellow Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins. Number 31 became the fifth to be retired by the Chicago Cubs, joining #14 in honor of Ernie Banks in 1982, #26 in honor of Billy Williams in 1987, #10 in honor of Ron Santo in 2003 and #23 in honor of Ryne Sandberg in 2005. Maddux and Jenkins are the only pitchers in Cubs history to have their uniform number retired.

The Cubs are honoring Maddux today with a congratulatory message on the Wrigley Field marquee at the corner of Clark and Addison. A photo of the message will be available via the club's official @Cubs twitter feed.